Bruce Dern and Will Forte and a bunch of old people
And we know, "not enough black people" and "it's in black and white so it's going to be pretentious" and "Alexander Payne is overrated and mean and hates people"
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Tue Sep-17-13 01:50 PM
2. "Payne rankings below: GO!" In response to Reply # 0
Haven't seen Citizen Ruth, but I'd go:
4. Sideways 3. About Schmidt 2. The Descendants 1. Election (easily)
I haven't really loved any of them save for Election, though I love moments of About Schmidt (the ending in particular). I just think About Schmidt's weak elements (the super cartoonish hillbilly characters and the bouncy "wacky" score) dip it below The Descendants, which doesn't have anything as great as About Schmidt's high points but is an overall more consistent film.
8. "Tough choice between Election and 'Scendants, but I chose Election" In response to Reply # 2
1. Election 2. The Descendants 3. Sideways 4. Citizen Ruth 5. About Schmidt
Maybe I need to see AS again, because to me it was the least memorable Payne film. As uneven as CR could be, I still appreciated it more (and Laura Dern's performance was great.)
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12 play and 12 planets are enlighten for all the Aliens to Party and free those on the Sex Planet-maxxx
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Tue Sep-17-13 02:19 PM
5. "The last one is definitely a common Payne complaint." In response to Reply # 3
The first one I hadn't heard, but since it's true, I can imagine it's been uttered on the boards before. The second is specific to this film and merely a prediction on Zoo's part, I imagine.
7. "Really fucking good." In response to Reply # 0
It's funny, harsh, and sweet. At some moments at the same time. The photography is excellent and the acting is on point. Will Forte really surprised me. And Stacy Keach still plays a slimy bastard well.
What really surprised me is Woody's motivation for getting the money.
Far from the best shit I've seen this year, but great all around.
10. "Shit was real tender, b." In response to Reply # 0
Very enjoyable. I thought Bruce Dern and Will Forte and Stacy Keach and Bob Odenkirk were very, very good, but the movie's thief was June Squibb, whom I forgot had worked with Payne previously in About Schmidt. Anyway, yes, hers is the "showiest" role; she gets off some tart one-liners and has a wild WTF? moment of her own, but she gave the movie a needed (and broad) comedic jolt whenever it threatened to get mawkish. Same for the goofy-ass twins. Except they shouldn't get nominated for anything.
And the black-and-white cinematography worked wonders for me.
This was some more of that real unexpectedly-gentle Alexander Payne shit, almost like a love letter to the people in his home state...
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gotta hear both sides
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Nov-06-13 12:59 AM
11. "Might be my favorite Payne to date. " In response to Reply # 0
Tender is the operative word. There are obviously a few acerbic moments, as that's often his go-to mode, but I found this to be far more gentle and loving at its core than something like About Schmidt or Sideways.
Plus, knowing a bunch of people from super-rural Midwest (my girlfriend's family, for example)... yeah. Dead on. In the best way.
12. "Saw this last night as part of that NY Film Critics Series w/ the Q&A" In response to Reply # 0
Forte, Dern & Squibb hosted by Travers (who damned near spoiled the movie in his intro & got booed accordingly)
Really enjoyed this, but more for the subtle familiar family moments than the actual performances. Don't get me wrong, Dern & Squibb are excellent. Forte plays a good straight man too. I've got no real personal ties to Montana or Nebraska (a few connects) but a lot of scenes reminded me of my fam here in Seattle & Oklahoma.
Awkward small talk around the tv watching football
Excuses made for not staying to visit & absent family members
Graveyard gossip
The one uncle or cousin just out there doin his own thing
Etc
Loved all of that stuff
Whenever it started to drag there were moments like these to keep me engaged. Loved the conclusion too. I know it wouldn't have worked with the rest of the soundtrack but the look exchanged between him & his old ex had Picture Me Rollin' written all over it.
Speakin of written...
Props to Bob Nelson for the screenplay. He wrote a couple eps of this local show here in Seattle 'Almost Live' back in the day on some SNL steez. Not sure if it ever gained any national pub but it was pretty good.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Nov-06-13 01:10 PM
13. "lmao, my theater was so pissed." In response to Reply # 12
>Forte, Dern & Squibb hosted by Travers (who damned near >spoiled the movie in his intro & got booed accordingly)
Travers never knows when to shut the fuck up. Any time anyone starts a sentence with, "I don't want to spoil anything from the movie, but..." IT'S A BAD FUCKING SIGN, lol.
14. "went from (g)rumblings to boos to loud talking just to drown him out" In response to Reply # 13
>>Forte, Dern & Squibb hosted by Travers (who damned near >>spoiled the movie in his intro & got booed accordingly) > >Travers never knows when to shut the fuck up. Any time anyone >starts a sentence with, "I don't want to spoil anything from >the movie, but..." IT'S A BAD FUCKING SIGN, lol.
Seriously...when you start it like that my next thought is always stfu
I wanted to tweet in a question about the Payne name on one of the grave's headstones but figured it wouldn't have made the cut
15. "I am really excited for this." In response to Reply # 0
and feel like I didn't do my civic duty by catching it early. I have fond memories of the Election set even though I was barely there, and love how he throws shine on us whenever he can even if it's grimy, depressing shine.
17. "I...didn't really like it" In response to Reply # 0
Painfully slow. Some great performances (namely Dern), but I kinda thought Forte and Odenkirk were outright bad in the opening scenes, but they got better as it went. But hoooooly hell was their dialog in Odenkirk's first scene terrible.
That said, I mean...I just didn't connect with it. There were some good moments, and I didn't hate it, but it's probably my least favorite Payne film by a lot...and I'm quite a fan of all of the others.
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